Liver disease of different etiologies confers significant morbidity and mortality and hence it constitutes a major health concern worldwide. Stemming from a range of causes, such as viral, drug-induced, alcoholic, or autoimmune, the rate of...

Studies have implicated the essential role of Vitamin A (VA) and its active metobolite, retinoic acid (RA) in both host defense and tolerance through manipulation of various immune cells, including T cells, B cells, macrophages and others. CD8⁺ T...

The motivational and rewarding properties of our immediate environment affect how humans interact with our world in a number of ways. One important aspect in which reward representation shapes behavior is in the development, maintenance and...

The ectomycorrhizal symbiosis between temperate forest trees and some soil fungi is an adaptation to resource limitations of both symbionts. Nitrogen enrichment of historically N-limited forest ecosystems may change this symbiosis through direct...

α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptors (AMPARs) function as paracrine and autocrine receptors throughout the body. Most studies have focused on their role in fast excitatory neuronal signaling, and learning and memory. In...

Spatial heterogeneity inherent in ecological systems impacts both diversity and community structure. However, little is known about the influence of habitat heterogeneity on temporal variability in communities. I performed several studies to...

Brain tumors account for ~2% of all cancers, with gliomas accounting for ~70% of all brain tumors. Evidence suggests that extent of resection provides both a quality of life and survival benefit to patients. Recent work has shown the utility of...

Vibrio cholerae is a gram-negative bacterial pathogen that causes the severe diarrheal disease cholera. Several bacterial factors have been identified that are critical for V. cholerae intestinal colonization. The best characterized of these...

Self-reconfiguring (SR) robots are modular systems that can autonomously change shape, or reconfigure , for increased versatility and adaptability in unknown environments. In this thesis, we investigate planning and control for systems of...

The work in this thesis deals with a novel approach for detecting and tracking chemical plumes in distributed sensor networks. The ultimate objective is solving the inverse location problem: given unknown sources released at unknown times, the...

Upon activation by binding of insulin, the insulin receptor tyrosine kinase phosphorylates a group of proteins known as the insulin receptor substrates (IRS's). The tyrosine phosphorylated IRS's then act as docking/effector molecules for SH2...

The research presented in this thesis tested the hypothesis that uterine epithelial cells (UEC) are selectively responsive to bacteria and pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMP) and that responses are influenced by estradiol (E 2 ). We...

The purpose of this thesis is to describe methods for detecting hidden crevasses on glaciers in Polar regions. Crevasses form in ice sheets as a result of forces imposed upon the brittle ice. The crevasses are hidden from view by bridges of soft...

Functional neuroimaging has confirmed a high degree of localization of function in the cerebral cortex of man. In contrast, microstructural analysis has contributed very little to the topographical characterization of cortical areas. In this work I...

Coal combustion remains an important source of toxic metal emissions. Dilute concentrations and poor understanding of their chemistries hinders reduction of these emissions. This thesis examines the chemistry of the trace metals arsenic and mercury...